San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. ANNA SELLMAN
A woman of splendid attainments and
much native business acumen who is greatly interested in the growth and
development of Stockton is Mrs. Anna Sellman, a native daughter of San Joaquin County,
who was born at French Camp. Her father,
Adam Shafer, came from Germany to Canada when about twelve years of age, where
being thrown upon his own resources he bravely made his own livelihood. On the discovery of gold in California he
started for the new El Dorado and on reaching California engaged in teaming and
farming. In Stockton he was married to
Mrs. Julia (Behrent) Kuhn, a native of Germany, who
came to California in pioneer days with her first husband, but he passed away
here in early days. After their marriage
they engaged in farming and stockraising near what was then Telegraph
City. Both have now passed to the great
beyond. This pioneer couple was blessed
with five children: Anna, Mrs. Sellman
of this review; Henry died in March, 1920; George resides in Tuolumne County;
Julia died at four years; Albert lives near Escalon.
Anna Shafer’s childhood was spent on
the farm where she attended the public school in the Telegraph district. When she was fifteen years of age her mother
died and five years later her father also passed away and she then came to
Stockton to make her home. Here she met
Lafayette Sellman and the acquaintance resulted in their marriage in 1878.
Mr. Sellman was an early settler and
successful businessman in Stockton, who passed away in 1889, and after his
death Mrs. Sellman assumed the management of his affairs and continued to build
up the laundry on the plan he had started and the property has been greatly
enlarged and improved and is still owned by the family. Through Mr. Sellman’s
capability and energy the City Laundry was the largest and leading one in the
county in his day and Mrs. Sellman with the same pride has continued by
progressive methods and expending of vast sums to keep in the lead, being ably
assisted in her endeavor by her daughter and her manager, Mr. Meyer. About 1892 she built her present home on East
Weber Street, and it has been the family home ever since.
About fifteen years ago she
incorporated the Stockton City Laundry, of which she is president. It is a close corporation owned by the
members of her family; the establishment being one of the leading enterprises
of the city, is notably a member of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the
Merchants Association.
Mrs. Sellman is a member of the
Central Methodist Episcopal Church, is active in its societies and contributes
liberally to its benevolences. She is a
member of Lebanon Lodge, Rebekahs, Ladies of the Maccabees
and Kauwaunita Council, Degree of Pocahontas. Her enterprise also finds other outlets than
the laundry, for she is a stockholder in the City Bank, also the Commercial and
Savings Bank, the Union Safe Deposit Bank and the Stockton Savings and Loan
Society. Being an ardent protectionist
she is naturally a strong Republican.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
376-381. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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